Sainsbury Centre

Om museet

Sir Robert and Lady Lisa Sainsbury built up one of Britain’s most unconventional art collections, bringing together modern European art with objects from across the world and from all periods, without separating art from archaeology and anthropology. In 1973 they donated it to the University of East Anglia, and their gift created a new type of museum. The collection is housed in a building designed by Sir Norman Foster, his first public building, which was conceived to give an interactive relationship between people, objects and landscape. The collection is shown in an open yet intimate “Living Area”.

The Centre houses art ranging from Jomon ceramics to bronzes by Giacometti, and new acquisitions are made regularly. In 2023 it was relaunched as a museum that treats art as a living force and presents collections from different cultures and periods side by side. As part of this, it became the first museum in the UK to introduce a “Pay If and What You Can” ticketing system for the whole museum, with one Universal Ticket that covers the permanent collection, the lower and mezzanine galleries and the sculpture park.

The building also houses the university’s School of Art History and World Art Studies, the Sainsbury Research Unit for the Arts of Oceania, Africa and the Americas and the Sainsbury Institute for Art. Outside is a 350-acre sculpture park, which is open to everyone during daylight hours, and the Centre has two cafés and a shop.

Højdepunkter

• The Living Area, with the Robert and Lisa Sainsbury Collection of world art
• Building by Norman Foster, his first public building
• Pay If and What You Can Universal Ticket, from free to £20
• Free guided tours of the Living Area and the exhibitions, Tuesday to Sunday
• 350-acre sculpture park open during daylight hours
• Modern Life Cafe and Terrace Cafe

Permanente udstillinger

• The Living Area – The display of the Robert and Lisa Sainsbury Collection, an eclectic mix of art from many cultures and periods shown together in Foster’s open building; free guided tours run twice a day, Tuesday to Sunday.
• Sculpture Park – A 350-acre outdoor park around the museum with sculptures, open to everyone during daylight hours, with a free trail map.

Grundlagt

1978

Ejer

University of East Anglia

Entrépriser & rabatter

Der er gratis entré.

Every visitor receives a Universal Ticket on arrival, which gives access to the permanent collection, all exhibitions in the lower and mezzanine galleries and the sculpture park. Tickets follow a “Pay If and What You Can” model: the price is chosen by the visitor from free up to £20 (or full membership), and all proceeds fund the museum’s exhibitions and activities. No pre-booking is needed. The museum asks visitors to book ahead for special exhibitions where possible.

Tilgængelighed

• Delvis kørestolsvenlig
• Elevator
• Handicaptoilet: ingen oplysninger
• Handicapparkering
• Servicehunde tilladt
• Taktile tilbud
• Rundvisninger på tegnsprog: ingen oplysninger
• Letlæste tilbud: ingen oplysninger
• Synstolkning

A platform lift at gallery reception serves the lower galleries (up to two wheelchairs and two companions), and a service lift to the west mezzanine gallery takes one small manual wheelchair only. Manual wheelchairs can be borrowed, Class 2 powered wheelchairs and mobility scooters are welcome, but Class 3 vehicles cannot be accommodated. Four disabled parking spaces are a short walk from the building. A Changing Places toilet is on campus in the UEA Science Building, less than five minutes away, and is open Monday to Friday from 08:00 to 20:00 (an access card is collected from reception at weekends). Volunteer guides offer tours with audio description and handling objects for blind and visually impaired visitors, large-print guides are available for special exhibitions, and sensory backpacks can be borrowed. There is no induction loop at present. Assistance and emotional support dogs are welcome.

Børn og familie

Velegnet til børn og familier

• Familieomvisninger & workshops
• Barnevognsvenlig
• Puslerum

The Centre offers everyday activities for families and a programme of family events. Buggies are welcome throughout the building, with lifts to the lower galleries and the west mezzanine, and can also be left in the cloakrooms; wheeled toys are not allowed in the galleries. Baby changing is in the toilets near the Modern Life Cafe, and drinking water is available from both cafés.

Transport & parkering

Visitors who travel without a car receive a 10% discount in the Terrace Cafe through the Good Journey scheme. Coaches must be arranged in advance. Secure bike racks are within walking distance.

Service & spisesteder

• Café
• Restaurant
• Museumsbutik
• Garderobe
• Opbevaringsskabe
• Wi-fi

The Terrace serves coffee, cakes and snacks with indoor and outdoor seating, and the Modern Life Cafe is a restaurant with a daily-changing menu and a children’s picnic box (card and mobile payment only). There is a gallery shop, and coats and bags can be left in the cloakroom or lockers to the right of the main doors. Visitors can use free “The Cloud” Wi-Fi after signing up for an account.

Arrangementer & udlejning

• Lokaler til leje
• Private fester
• Firmaarrangementer
• Bryllupper / vielser

Spaces can be hired for weddings and other events, with catering by the Modern Life Cafe.

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